76ers Select Aide Guokas To Replace Cunningham

June 14, 1985|By Russ White

Matt Guokas is the new head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. Guokas replaces Billy Cunningham, who resigned two weeks ago after the team lost in the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics. Cunningham had been head coach for eight years. The 76ers' first choice to replace Cunningham: Detroit Pistons Coach Chuck Daly, a former Philadelphia assistant. The 76ers were not willing to give up the first-round draft choice Detroit sought for compensation, however. Daly still has a year remaining in his Pistons contract. Guokas, 41, has worked for the 76ers for the last nine years, the first 4 1/2 years as a broadcaster and the last 4 1/2 as an assistant coach. He spent 10 seasons, beginning in 1966-67, in the league as a backup guard with Philadelphia.